XXII 
LOCAL POLITICS 
221 
nature of their work and in many cases by lack of 
communication from direct and regular participation 
in politics. They found, as we find in England, that this 
inability is taken advantage of by politicians, and their 
interests were being subordinated to and made the 
sport of party politics. They therefore formed this 
association, which is pledged to have no part or share 
in such politics, but simply exists to protect the interests 
of agriculture and agriculturists. Possibly we could 
do worse than have such an Association at home. 
The next step towards self-government will undoubt¬ 
edly be the division of the country into constituencies, 
which will each elect a member to form the opposition 
on the Legislative Council. Such a transition stage on 
the road to complete self-Government is an extremely 
disagreeable one both for the Government and for the 
governed. If this stage came now, it would, I fear, be 
bound to continue for a good many years. My 
impression is that the longer the step is delayed the 
shorter will be this tiresome species of interregnum 
and the quicker will come the ultimate development 
and complete self-government of the country. 
